Bella Barlow

Biography

Bella trained at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in Musical Theatre obtaining a distinction in her MA having completed her BA (Hons) in Music at The University of Southampton and a DipLCM (Distinction) in Musical Theatre. A keen pianist from age seven and tutored by Reginald Thompson, she now largely works as a composer and vocalist across London. She is also the composer of the dynamic musical theatre writing duo Barlow & Smith, they are currently working on releasing a Concept Album of their newest musical VANYA'S.

Professional stage credits include Dream Queen (The Globe Theatre), Guest singer for Kerry Ellis (The Pheasantry), On My Way EP Launch- Emma Ralston (ATA Cabaret Club), West End To The West Country (Sterts Theatre), Christmas In The City - Album launch (The Pheasantry), Side by Side by Sondheim (Edinburgh Fringe), Florinda in Into the Woods (Stoke Rep.), Model/Ensemble in WAG! The Musical (Rose and Crown), Edda/Witch Sigrun’s Fire (Embassy Theatre), Cindy in Love and Animosity (George Wood Theatre), Amore (South Coast UK Tour), Love and Facebook (Battersea Barge), and A New Horizon (Union Theatre).

As a Composer, Bella’s most recent musical was a commission by British Youth Music Theatre adapting Michael Morpurgo’s WHY THE WHALES CAME with book writer / lyricist Nikki Racklin which was performed at The Mack (London) and The Taunton Brewhouse Theatre in 2022 following sell-out audiences and 5* reviews from their Summer 2021 production at The Drum Theatre, Theatre Royal. She is currently working on a new Musical with Pam Ayres and Director Loveday Ingram.

As Composer for Barlow & Smith, with lyricist A.C. Smith the duo were commissioned to write for two- time Olivier award winning actress Janie Dee for her show Dream Queen (as part of the the London Festival of Cabaret), were heard on Graham Norton's BBC Radio 2 show, Guest for Kerry Ellis, wrote for One Night In Chelsea (site-specific show, directed by Alastair Knights), and recorded their debut album Christmas In The City with producer Ian Shaw (now available on iTunes), and had their brand new musical Lock & Key (directed by Adam Lenson) produced at Vault Festival in 2018. Their Musical VANYA’S has been workshopped with Old Vic New Voices and at Arts Ed and is currently in development. Their latest Musical CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY was shortlisted for the 2021 Stiles & Drew Mentorship Award.

Barlow & Smith together with London Playwrights Blog have launched a brand new writing initiative WMTI - Woman in Musical Theatre Initiative - which has been set up to help support female writers in all stages of their careers. Their first fundraising cabaret took place February 2018. In 2019 they were commissioned by the Canales Project for Hear Her Song, a fantastic project honouring incredible female leaders from the United Nations, with songs from 10 female composers. Hear Her Song had a UK premiere followed by the New York Premier at the Public Theatre, NYC.

Film Credits include: Bollocks (Polarity Films), Trading Models (Barr Productions), Valda (Gui Oliveira), Joan Armatrading’s music video Starlight (Directed by Joel Anderson) and Don’t Let Go (written by Jacob William).